The former Pink Floyd lead vocalist, Roger Waters, finds himself at the center of controversy once again, following a recent performance in Germany where he sported an outfit reminiscent of a Nazi SS officer. The rock star also drew parallels between the late Al Jazeera journalist, Abu Akleh, and Holocaust victim, Anne Frank, stirring up heated debate.
Waters’ stage attire was adorned with crossed hammer symbols, echoing an imaginary neo-Nazi group portrayed in the 1982 movie, “Pink Floyd: The Wall”. The contentious concert took place at Berlin’s Mercedes-Benz Arena, and kicked off with a displayed statement: “A court in Frankfurt has confirmed that I am not anti-Semitic… Just to be clear, I unequivocally condemn antisemitism,” as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
Known for his outspoken views, Waters, now 79, has previously drawn ire for likening Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to Nazi actions, in a series of press interviews. These statements have led critics to label him anti-Semitic.
During the most recent performance, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee seemed to mimic an SS officer, parading on stage under banners that echoed Nazi insignia, replacing swastikas with crossed hammer symbols. Amid the spectacle, Waters performed “Lay Down Jerusalem (If I Had Been God)” while the phrase “F$%& the occupation” was displayed.
A controversial segment of the show saw a cross-shaped screen showcasing the names of deceased individuals, such as George Floyd, whose death catalyzed the global Black Lives Matter movement. Most contentious was the inclusion of Holocaust victim Anne Frank and Abu Akleh, a journalist killed while reporting on an Israeli Defense Forces raid in a Palestinian refugee camp.
The juxtaposition of these two names, and the overall concert, caused an outcry in the Jewish community. Israel’s Foreign Ministry criticized Waters in a tweet, stating that he was disrespecting the memory of Anne Frank and the Holocaust victims. The Simon Wiesenthal Center echoed this sentiment, criticizing the choice of venue and accusing the organizers of showing no concern for the Jewish community.
Waters has previously faced backlash for his provocative views. Earlier this year, he reinforced his comparison between Israel and the Third Reich in an interview with Germany’s Berliner Zeitung, and also defended Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Waters’ controversial opinions have drawn criticism from within his own circle, with David Gilmour’s wife, Polly Samson, denouncing him as “anti-Semitic”, a “Putin apologist”, and “a lying, thieving, hypocritical, tax-avoiding, lip-synching, misogynistic, sick-with-envy, megalomaniac”. These remarks were later endorsed by her husband, David Gilmour, on Twitter. In response, Waters’ team posted a counter statement on Instagram.
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